If you haven’t heard of Moo Deng the baby hippo yet, you have not experienced the height of joy! The adorable two-month-old pygmy hippo has taken the internet by storm, and honestly, I don’t know how I functioned before she came into my life.
With her chubby cheeks and sassy attitude, Moo Deng has captured the hearts of millions of people across social media. Born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand to parents Jonah and Tony, this bouncy ball of joy has two equally cute siblings — Moo Tun (stewed pork) and Moo Wan (sweet pork). The names have me dead.
Moo Deng’s name was chosen by a popular vote at the zoo, translates to “bouncy pig” (or bouncy pork) in Thai, and I need to know where the obsession with pork dish names comes from.
Since her keepers started posting videos of her daily shenanigans — think napping, splashing around in her pool, and throwing the occasional tantrum — her fame has skyrocketed. Seriously, attendance at the zoo has nearly doubled!
It’s safe to say people online are obsessed with Moo Deng. “Moo Deng should be considered a national treasure,” said one X user.
“Honestly it’s embarrassing but she’s such an icon,” said another.
But with great fame comes great responsibility, and unfortunately, not all the attention Moo Deng is receiving is positive.
Protect Moo Deng at all costs
In a recent statement, zoo director Narongwit Chodchoi had to step in and remind everyone that harassment of Moo Deng won’t fly. Apparently, some visitors thought it would be cute to throw food at her and splash her with water for a reaction. How dare they come for the light of my life?
“These behaviours are not only cruel but also dangerous,” Chodchoi said.
“We must protect these animals and ensure that they have a safe and comfortable environment.”
And honestly, can we all agree that Moo Deng deserves better than that?
To keep her safe from fans who seem to want to ruin everything good in life, the zoo has installed CCTV cameras around her enclosure.
They’ve also limited viewing times to just five minutes per group of 50 people. The zoo has also threatened legal action against anyone caught mistreating the baby hippo.
Baby hippo merch
The zoo is cashing in on Moo Deng’s celebrity status with a range of merchandise, including a hippo-inspired shirt and trouser combo that I will be adding to cart ASAP.
Sephora Thailand has jumped on the bandwagon too! They released an Instagram ad featuring Moo Deng-inspired blushes that let customers “wear your blush like a baby hippo.” I mean, who wouldn’t want to channel their inner hippo?
So if you’re feeling a bit down or just need a pick-me-up, take a scroll through Moo Deng’s videos for the perfect dopamine hit.
Lead image: X/Getty Images
The post Moo Deng The Tiny Hippo Has Taken Over The Internet & Not To Be Dramatic But I’d Die For Her appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
